A bi-weekly update from the Massachusetts Nonprofit Network.                                        

insourceFree Training on 11/16: Maximizing the Power of Dropbox
On Thursday, November 16 from 8:30-10:00am at The NonProfit Center, please join MNN Affiliate Member  Insource Services, Inc. for an informative session on how to eliminate your file server and have better control over organizational information by implementing Dropbox. Used by 500 million people around the world, Dropbox enables teams to safely access work files on any internet-enabled device. Dropbox boosts collaboration and data access in a safe, secure way while simplifying IT infrastructures. Insource will discuss the key features of and models for Dropbox use as well as highlight a client case study. A special  Dropbox promotion will be given to MNN members who attend the event and sign up through  InsourceRegister here.
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Thank you to the over 70 nonprofits who responded to our action alert last week on the House Ways and Means tax bill. While the bill was approved by the House Ways and Means Committee on a party-line basis and continues to include harmful provisions that will negatively impact the nonprofit sector, our collective voices were heard in the process. Late last week, the Senate Finance Committee released its  bill, with deliberation by the committee beginning yesterday afternoon. Although the Senate bill currently does not have any language weakening the Johnson Amendment, the bill includes numerous harmful provisions.

Please visit our blog  here for a detailed account of both tax bills, including a comprehensive House/Senate comparison chart prepared by our colleagues at the National Council of Nonprofits. 

Today MNN will be issuing a letter to the Massachusetts congressional delegation, urging them to vote "no" on the tax bill. We will be monitoring the situation closely and will be in touch with action items as opportunities arise.

stateState Policy Update: MNN Testifies on Employer Health Care Assistance Contributions          
Yesterday, MNN's CEO Jim Klocke testified to the Division of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) on the Employer Medical Assistance Contribution supplement (EMAC supplement) draft regulations. The testimony raised our key concerns and included three recommendations. Click here to view the testimony and here for additional information about this new employer assessment.

Over the next four days, DUA will hold four additional listening sessions in Springfield, Worcester, Lawrence, and West Barnstable. In addition, DUA will be collecting comments electronically at [email protected]

We encourage all nonprofits who will be impacted by the new EMAC supplement to submit comments to DUA or attend one of the listening sessions. If you have questions, contact Director of Government Affairs Tonja Mettlach anytime.
On Monday, November 20 from 9:00-10:00am at the NonProfit Center in Boston, Governor Baker's Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael Heffernan will join MNN members for a discussion on issues impacting the nonprofit sector at the next Policymaker Roundtable event. Secretary Heffernan oversees the Governor's budget plan, providing guidance on the economy, implementing state government's operating and capital budgets, and managing the state's administrative agencies.   Click here to register for this event.  Please note that our Policymaker Roundtables are only open to MNN members . To learn more about joining MNN,  click here .

healthHealth Connector Launches New Small Group Health Coverage Platform
The new Health Connector for Business launches this month, with a new system that enables employers with 50 or fewer employees to compare and select coverage through Massachusetts' leading commercial health plans. In the new Health Connector for Business, employers will be able to control their own contributions while offering their employees a choice of a number of different plans so they can pick the one that best meets their needs. Health Connector for Business offers commercial-market plans through six carriers: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan, Fallon Community Health Plan, Harvard Pilgrim Health Plan, Health New England, and Neighborhood Health Plan. There is also a 15% discount for participation in a Wellness Program.

The new platform can be found here.
nonprofit4111 Nonprofit 411: Workplace Conflict - Is It Always Just About the People?
Janet Grogan, The Mediation Group

The times we live in seem to be exacerbating tensions in the workplace. Hostilities seem to be more overt; they are certainly often more public. Diagnosing the real nature of a conflict when it arises and ensuring that the right intervention is applied is crucial to preventing a continuing burn that could explode in the future. There are almost always ways in which the organization's history, structure, systems and culture contribute.  Read more .
webinarsFree Wednesday Webinars
Protecting Your Nonprofit's IT Security
IT security has been making national headlines. Organizations face data security risk exposures from internal and external sources every day with rapidly evolving ransomware and malware threats. Attendees of the webinar run by our member Tech Networks of Boston will learn how to recognize various types of cybercrime, best practices for information security, and how to make smart decisions regarding their organization's information security.  Register here.


How to Conduct an Organizational Conflict Assessment
In this webinar, MNN member  The Mediation Group will ask attendees important questions: "Is unnecessary conflict eating up your time? Are your employees stressed? Is morale low? Do you wish you could get everyone rowing in the same direction?" During this interactive webinar, attendees will learn how to take the pulse of their organizations so they can begin to understand the source of these challenges. Attendees will take away some easy tips to help employees feel valued, listened to, and respected in times of conflict.  Register here.

QUICK LINKS 
Fatherhood Initiative Coordinator, The Children's Trust
Communications and Marketing Director, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts
Executive Director, Franklin Park Coalition
Director of Corporate Relations, United Way of New Bedford
Food Hub Manager, Worcester Regional Food Hub
HiSET Math Instructor, Catholic Charities of Boston
Community Fundraising Coordinator, Homes For Our Troops
Spanish-Speaking Enrollment and Matching Specialist, Big Sister Association of Greater Boston
Office Manager, Anatolia College
Program Supervisor, Community Action of Franklin, Hampshire & North Quabbin Region
Development Director, North Shore Community Health
Clinical Director, Bay Cove Human Services
PIRG Campus Organizer, Work for Progress
Program Manager, Community Cooks
Executive Director, Children's Museum in Easton
Executive Director, Step By Step Supportive Services
Staff Writer, Boston Partners in Education
Community Program Facilitator-Chelsea/Revere, Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts

Fundraising Bootcamp, Framingham, November 16
Forum on Critical Relationships, Boston, November 16
Board Roles & Board Goals, Lawrence, November 21
Nonprofit Incorporation Workshop, Boston, December 14

Resources
The  Community  Engagement Master's Program at Merrimack College is seeking exceptional individuals and organizations for their 2018-2019  Fellowship  Program. Fellows earn a full-tuition scholarship, gain real-world experience, and acquire a Master's degree in 12 months. Sites build organizational capacity with fellows who provide nine months of service, 25 hours per week, in exchange for a modest site fee. They are also seeking qualified applicants for their Traditional Master's Program. These are individuals who typically work full-time and complete the Master's Program at the pace that is right for them.  Visit them online here  or contact Director Audrey Falk at  [email protected]  for more information.

Community Catalyst , a nonprofit organization with a mission to organize and sustain a powerful consumer voice to ensure that all individuals and communities can influence the local, state, and national decisions that affect their health, is looking for like-minded organizations to sublease some of their space located at One Federal. Please contact Donna Pina Robinson at  [email protected]  for further details and/or to view the space.

The Gloucester Lyceum & Sawyer Free Library is soliciting bids for the development of a Strategic Fundraising Plan for the construction of a new/renovated building. All interested parties can review the RFP  here

The Bridgespan Group is working with six local funders to provide  Leading for Impact®, an innovative capacity building program, to nonprofits in the Boston area. Leading for Impact® is a city-based consulting program designed to help ambitious nonprofits pursue strategic opportunities and build capacity to both improve their performance over time and achieve greater, local impact. Through Leading for Impact®, Bridgespan will help accelerate the impact of 50 high-potential nonprofit organizations in the Boston area through 2021. They will be launching cohorts of eight to nine organizations every six months, and  Bridgespan is currently enrolling for the cohort that will start in December 2017. This program is best suited for organizations that are working to increase social mobility in the greater Boston area and that have executive teams of four to six individuals. Please see the  list of organizations that have participated in the program. Click here to learn more.










New & Returning Affiliate Members 
*Special discount for MNN members

Adviza helps organizations achieve their missions and focus on results through offering consulting services to executives, senior managers, and boards in the philanthropic and nonprofit sectors.
*Free 30-60 minute phone consultation, 10% discount on multi-year projects.

Curtis Strategy
Curtis Strategy advises nonprofit organizations and specializes in strategic planning, governance, change, and organizational design. 

Dynamic Solution Associates offers fundraising and administrative services for nonprofits.

IdeaLift Group is a firm specializes in consulting nonprofit leaders and boards of directors on board development, effective governance practices, strategic planning, and building fundraising plans based on a culture of philanthropy.
*Free introductory consultation.

iFactory provides interactive solutions for higher education, publishing, nonprofit, and healthcare organizations, utilizing the Outbloom Framework.
*20% discount on the Outbloom framework and all add-on services.

Melissa Gilroy, CPA provides reasonably priced accounting, auditing, and bookkeeping services to nonprofits. 
*50% off bookkeeping service for the first month.

Oracle + NetSuite Social Impact offers one unified business management suite for nonprofits, encompassing ERP/financials, CRM and e-commerce.

Regional chamber of commerce that serves the 25 communities of the South Shore.
*Nonprofits can join the chamber at base annual rate.

Tennant Lubell provides legal advice on board governance, regulatory compliance, intellectual property protection, licensing, and general business transactions.
*10% discount.

Venture Creative is a marketing agency offering services for nonprofits including strategy, branding, content creation, content distribution and tracking analytics.
*Free consultation; 10% off development of a marketing plan.

Whittlesey & Hadley, P.C. provides an array of accounting, auditing, tax, and advisory services to nearly 350 nonprofit organizations.

New & Returning 
Nonprofit Members


MNN's work is made possible by the Barr Foundation, The Boston Foundation & the Highland Street Foundation.
If you'd like to share a story or have a job, grant or other information that is important to Massachusetts nonprofits, contact  [email protected].